In a further installment of a developing story, the Trump administration has decided to sell the Ukrainian military anti-tank weapons in addition to the already approved heavy sniper rifles. The Javelin missile systems have long been said to be in consideration as ‘defensive weapons’ for the Ukrainian armed forces. Reports state The White House is also considering anti-aircraft systems as approved weapons to provide Kyiv.

Russia was not happy, saying Trump had ‘crossed a line’. “Washington has sought to cast itself as a ’mediator,’” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in a statement. “It’s not a mediator. It’s an accomplice in fueling a war.” The Russian official seemed to threaten greater Ukraine, “The American weapons can lead to more victims in the neighboring country, and we couldn’t stay indifferent to that.”

Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., Valeriy Chaly, was jubilant and declared the decision will bring peace to the region.

“Weakness encourages an aggressor,” he said on Facebook. “Force helps deter him and push him toward peace,” reported Associated Press. “With lethal weapons supplies, the U.S. gives a clear signal to Kiev that it will support a military option,” Alexei Pushkov, the head of the upper house’s information committee, said on Twitter.

“The United States has decided to provide Ukraine enhanced defensive capabilities as part of our effort to help Ukraine build its long-term defense capacity, to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to deter further aggression,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. “U.S. assistance is entirely defensive in nature, and as we have always said, Ukraine is a sovereign country and has a right to defend itself…The United States remains committed to the Minsk agreements as the way forward in eastern Ukraine,” reported Russian state news agency TASS.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Ukraine is the biggest sticking point for better relations between the United States and the Russian Federation, “It stands as the single most difficult obstacle to us renormalizing the relationship with Russia, which we badly would like to do.”

L. Todd Wood, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, flew special operations helicopters supporting SEAL Team 6, Delta Force and others. After leaving the military, he pursued his other passion, finance, spending 18 years on Wall Street trading emerging market debt, and later, writing. The first of his many thrillers is "Currency." Todd is a national security columnist for The Washington Times and has contributed to One American News, Fox Business, Newsmax TV, Moscow Times, the New York Post, National Review, the Jerusalem Post, Zero Hedge and others. He is also publisher of Creative Destruction Media and editor-in-chief of Tsarizm.com. For more information about L. Todd Wood, visit LToddWood.com.

The mission at Tsarizm is to provide breaking international news, analysis, and opinion, with a primary focus on Russia, the former Soviet republics, Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the Middle East...although other regions may also be discussed...